Automatic teller safety shield and capture cage



Sept. 15, 1964 N. BlLLl 3,148,640

AUTOMATIC TELLER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Filed Sept. 9, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NADINA BILL! Sept. 15, 1964 AUTOMATIC TELLERSAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Filed Sept. 9, 1963 N. BlLLl 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. NADINA BILL! mil 1' 'J 56 so 52 Sept. 15, 1964N BZlLL l 3,148,640

AUTOMATIC 'TI-EKLDER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Filed Sept. 9, 19654 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR NADINA BlLLl United States Patent 3,148,640AUTOMATIC TELLER SAFETY SHIELD AND CAPTURE CAGE Nadina Biili, 28-30 46thSt., Astoria, NY. Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,607 4 Claims. (Cl.1095) This invention concerns an apparatus for foiling a holdup of ateller, cashier or clerk in a bank, paymasters office, and other placeswhere money or other valuables are disbursed or handled.

The invention is adapted for installation at a cashiers window open tothe public for transaction of business. Such a facility is alwayssubject to the hazard of holdup by an armed person intent on unlawfullyobtaining money or other valuables under threat of force or bodilyviolence. The present invention has as a principal object provision ofmeans for capturing and rendering harmless an armed person while in theact of performing a holdup at a cashiers or tellers window.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means forinterposing a safety shield between the armed holdup man and thecashier, teller, clerk or other personnel menaced by the armed holdupman.

A further object is to provide a metal net for capturing a holdup manwhile in the act of performing a holdup.

Still another object is to provide automatic tear gas ejection means inan apparatus as described for subduing a captured holdup man.

According to the invention there is provided in front of and above atellers or cashiers window a net in the form of a plurality of ringsnested or telescoped one Within the other. The rings are suspended andheld by Wires or cords which are released by electromagneticallyoperated latches. The teller or cashier will close an electric circuitto actuate the latches during the occurrence of a holdup. The net ofrings will be released and will descend to enclose and capture theholdup man. Electromagnetic means can be provided to hold the net inextended position until it is released by authorized personnel or policewho will take into custody the holdup man thus captured. The apparatusis also provided with a bullet-proof shield which will descend when thenet is released to interpose a protective wall between the teller orcashier and the armed holdup man. The inven tion is thus arranged toprotect the cashier or teller menaced by the armed holdup man and alsoto capture the armed holdup man in such a way that he cannot break outof the net or use his firearms to efiect his release. The apparatus alsoincludes automatic tear gas ejection means to subdue a captured holdupman.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a tellers window provided withapparatus according to the invention, parts being broken away, theapparatus being shown in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, parts beingomitted.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken online 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, partsbeing broken away, the apparatus being shown in released or extendedposition.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in released orextended position, parts being shown in section, and other parts beingbroken away.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6,parts being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an electric circuit employed in the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus 10 includes a cashiers ortellers window 12 defined by two spaced vertical channel members 14secured in an opening in a vertical wall 16. At the bottom of the windowis a base plate 18. The plate has a slot 19 (see FIG. 2) in which is seta resilient rubber pad 20 flush with the top of plate 18. Slidablymounted in the window is a flat, transparent pane 22, made ofbullet-proof plate glass. This pane serves as a safety shield. Theshield has its opposite vertical edges engaged in grooves 23 of thechannel members 14. Two cords or wires 26 26 are secured to the upperapertured corners of the shield. The cords are entrained on twoforwardly disposed pulleys 23 and two rearwardly disposed pulleys 30. Atfree ends of the cords are loops 32 which respectively engage on reEtractable catch fingers 34 of two electromagnetic solenoids 36*, 36disposed on the rear of wall 16 spaced laterally from the window 12. Thebrackets 29, 31 of pulleys 28, 30 are secured to ceiling C.

A horizontal counter 38 is provided for use of the teller or cashier atthe rear of wall 16; see FIGS. 2 and 5. Just beneath counter 38 is aswitch 40 having an operating button 42 for actuating the electriccircuit provided in the apparatus. The switch 40 is located just abovedrawer 44 in which the cashier or teller stores money or other valuableswhich he handles in conducting his business with the public at window12.

Just above and in front of the window 12 is a net employed for capturinga holdup man. The net '50 includes a series of concentric tapered rings52. The uppermost ring 52 has the smallest diameter at its upper end andis secured by brackets 54 to the ceiling C. The bottom end or rim ofeach ring has a diameter slightly larger than the upper end of eachouter ring. Thus, when the rings are in the extended position of FIGS. 5and 6, they form an extended tapered telescopic tube which reaches fromfloor F almost to the ceiling C. Around the bottom rim of the outermostand lowermost ring 52 is an annular magnetic steel flange 56. The rings52 can be made of solid, perforated or mesh metal.

In retracted position, the rings nest one within the other as shown inFIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Each of the rings except rings 52. and 52 has a pairof diametrically opposed radially extending arms 58 formed with eyes 59.These eyes are Slidably engaged with vertical posts, rods or Wires 60spaced laterally apart and secured between the ceiling C and floor F.The arms 58 of each of the rings overlay each other. The bottom ring 52has two radial arms 58 which underlay and support the other arms 58 andthus support the entire assembly of movable rings 52. Arms 58 haveopenings 59 engaged on posts 60 and have apertured free ends engaged byknotted ends of two cords or wires 62*, 62 see FIG. 4.

Cords 62*, 62 are entrained on forward pulleys 64 having brackets 65secured to ceiling C. The cords pass respectively over two rear pulleys66 having brackets 63 secured to ceiling C. The cords then pass downbehind wall 16 to two pulleys 68 whose brackets 69 are secured to floorF at opposite sides of the counter; see FIGS. 2 and 5. The cords 62 62then pass upwardly and t erminate in loops 67 which can be engaged oncatch fingers 34.

FIG. 5 shows the cords26 26 and 62 62 in released positions disengagedfrom the catch fingers 34. The safety shield 22 is in a lowered positionon pad 20 closing the lower part of window 12. The net 50 is in alowered extended position and may be enclosing a holdup man M indicatedin dotted lines in FIG. 6.

In a recess 70 in the floor F concealed under a thin fioor covering 72is circular plate 74 of an electromagnet 76. This plate is located justin front of wall 16 below the window 12. The plate 74 can be magnetizedto attract and hold the magnetic flange 56 of ring 52' so that the net50 cannot be lifted unless the electric circuit which energizes theelectromagnet is opened.

FIG. 8 shows the electric circuit 80 employed in the apparatus. Thiscircuit includes a power supply 82 which is connected in series withswitch 40. Connected in parallel with each other across the terminals ofthe power supply are the two solenoids 36 36 and electromagnet coil 75of the electromagnet 76. A holdup alarm 34 which may provide bothaudible and visual signals for summoning police is also connected acrossthe circuit in parallel with the electromagnet and solenoids.

Solenoids 36 36 have plungers 88 from which extend the catch fingers 34.The plungers are retracted when the solenoids are energized so thatfingers 34 disengage from the loops 32 and 67 of cords 26 26 and 62*, 62

Electromagnet plate 74 is magnetized when coil 75 of the electromagnet76 is energized. This plate provides a strong magnetic field in thefloor F in front of the window 12. The floor covering 72 provides aninsulating air gap which increases the magnetic hold of the magnetizedplate 74, on the flange 56 of ring 52 The floor covering also concealsthe presence of plate 74.

A hood 90 can be provided around the net 50 to conceal rings 50, 50 and50. This hood can be attached to wall 16. Parts of the hood are brokenaway or omitted in the drawing to show the net 50 more clearly. The hoodis preferably spaced from ceiling C at its upper edge a distance atleast equal to the spacing of the upper edge of rings 52 from theceiling. This arrangement provides a space to admit air to the extendedassembly of rings if they are made of solid metal. It also providesspace at the top of the net through which police officers can, ifnecessary, drop tear gas bombs to subdue a holdup man captured in thenet.

The net and shield will normally be retracted and concealed and will notinterfere in any way with performance of the daily business of thecashier or teller where the apparatus is installed. If the teller orcashier is confronted by a holdup man who presents himself at the window12, the cashier will close the conveniently located switch button 42just above money drawer 44. At once, the catch fingers 34 will retractto release the cords holding the shield and net. The shield 22 willdescend of its own weight upon the resilient pad providing a transparentbullet-proof Wall between the holdup man and the cashier. At the sametime the net 50 will be operated. The rings 52 will fall of their ownweight to enclose the surprised holdup man. When the bottom ring strikesthe floor it will be held by the magnet plate 74. The holdup alarm 84will also be operated to summon police or armed guards. The authorizedpersonnel will then open switch to deenergize electromagnet 76 andpermit the net 50 to be raised. The net will be raised by one or twopersons manually pulling on the free looped ends 67 of the cords 62, 62at the rear of wall 14. The raised net will be fixed by reengaging thecords on pulleys 68 and the loops 64 on catch fingers 34 of therespective solenoids. The shield 22 will be raised by manually pullingdown on cords 26, 26 and reengaging the loops 32 on catch fingers 34. Ifdesired, an electrically operated tear gas ejector 95 can be mounted onceiling C within ring 52*- for ejecting tear gas downwardly when the net50 is released to subdue the holdup man. The tear gas ejector 95 will beconnected in parallel with solenoids and electromagnet as indicated inFIG. 8.

There has thus been provided according to the invention, an apparatusfor shielding a cashier or teller from a holdup man and for capturingand subduing the holdup man at the same time. The apparatus is soarranged that if, for any reason the electric power supply 32 or thesolenoids 36 36 should fail to operate when switch 44 is closed, thecashier can manually pull the loops 32, 67 off of fingers 34- to releasethe cords holding the shield and net in raised retracted positions. Theapparatus is thus certain to operate. If the alarm 82, tear gas ejectiondevice or electromagnet 76 should fail to operate for any reason, theholdup man will still be entrapped and disabled and before he can effecthis own release a sumcient time will elapse for armed bank or payrollguards or other personnel to approach and effect capture of the holdupman.

It is to be understood that the concentric tapered rings 52 may be madeof any shape and material. They may also be transparent or made of mesh,bullet-proof material. The release fingers 34 may be located on thewall, on the cashiers counter, on the floor or at any other suitableplace.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letter Patent 1s:

1. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at acashiers or tellers counter for transacting business with the public,said apparatus comprising a bullet-proof shield slidably disposed insaid window, cord means attached to said window for supporting theshield in an elevated position to clear an opening in the window, pulleymeans carrying said cord means, electromagnetically actuated catch meansdisposed near said counter and detachably engaging said cord means, aretractable and extensive net, other cord means supporting the net in anelevated retracted position above and in front of the open window andelevated shield, other pulley means carrying said other cord means, saidother cord means terminating at and detachably engaged with said catchmeans, electrical switch means at the tellers counter in circuit withsaid catch means for releasing said other cord means to extend the netto capture an armed person standing in front of the tellers window andfor simultaneously releasing the first-named cord means to drop theshield and close the opening in the window, said net having a magneticbottom portion, and an electromagnet in the floor underneath and infront of the said window, in line with said magnetic bottom, saidelectromagnet being connected in circuit with said switch means forenergization thereby to magnetically engage said bottom portion of thenet and hold the same in extended position.

2. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at acashiers or tellers counter for transacting business with the public,said apparatus comprising a bullet-proof shield slidably disposed insaid window, cord means attached to said window for supporting theshield in an elevated position to clear an opening in the window, pulleymeans carrying said cord means, electromagnetically actuated catch meansdisposed near said counter and detachably engaging said cord means, aretractable and extensible net, other cord means supporting the net inan elevated retracted position above and in front of the open window andelevated shield, other pulley means carrying said other cord means, saidother cord means terminating at and detachably engaged with said catchmeans, switch means at the tellers counter in circuit with said catchmeans for releasing said other cord means to extend the net to capturean armed person standing in front of the tellers window and forsimultaneously releasing the first-named cord means to drop the shieldand close the opening in the window, said net including a plurality oftapered nested rings, said rings defining a tapered tube when the ringsare extended, the uppermost one of said rings being secured in astationary position in front of and above said window, the lowermost oneof said rings having a magnetic, circumferentially extending bottomportion, and an electromagnet in the floor underneath and in front ofthe said window, in line with said net, said electromagnet beingconnected in circuit with said switch means for energization thereby tomagnetically engage said bottom portion of the net and hold the same inextended position.

3. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at acashiers or tellers counter for transacting business with the public,said apparatus comprising a bullet-proof shield slidably disposed insaid window, cord means attached to said window for supporting theshield in an elevated position to clear an opening in the Window, pulleymeans carrying said cord means, electromagnetically actuated catch meansdisposed near said counter and detachably engaging said cord means, aretractable and extensible net, other cord means supporting the net inan elevated retracted position above and in front of the open window andelevated shield, other pulley means carrying said other cord means, saidother cord means terminating at and detachably engaged with said catchmeans, switch means at the tellers counter in circuit with said catchmeans for releasing said other cord means to extend the net to capturean armed person standing in front of the tellers window and forsimultaneously releasing the first-narned cord means to drop the shieldand close the opening in the window, said net including a plurality oftapered nested rings, said rings defining a tapered tube when the ringsare extended, the uppermost one of said rings being secured in astationary position in front of and above said window, the lowermost oneof said rings having a magnetic, circumferentially extending bottomportion, and an electromagnet in the floor underneath and in front ofthe said window, in line with said net, said electromagnet beingconnected in circuit with said switch means for energization thereby tomagnetically engage said bottom portion of the net and hold the same inextended position, and a tear gas ejector disposed inside the uppermostone of said rings, said tear gas ejector being electrically operated anddisposed in circuit with said switch means for actuation thereby,whereby said tear gas ejector emits tear gas to subdue said armed personcaptured within the net when the net is extended.

4. A protective apparatus for a bank or the like having a window at atellers counter for transacting business with the public, said apparatuscomprising a retractable and extensible net of annular tapered rings,cord means supporting the net in an elevated retracted position aboveand in front of said window, electrically operated catch means, saidcord means being detachably engaged upon said catch means and holdingthe net elevated and retracted, switch means at the tellers counter incircuit with the catch means for leasing the cord means to extend thenet and capture an armed person standing in front of the tellers window,said net having a magnetic bottom portion, an electromagnet in the floorunderneath and in front of the said window, in line with said net, saidelectromagnet being connected in circuit with said switch means forenergization thereby to magnetically engage said bottom portion of thenet and hold the same in extended position, and a tear gas ejectordisposed inside the uppermost one of said rings, said tear gas ejectorbeing electrically operated and disposed in circuit with said switchmeans for actuation thereby, whereby said tear gas ejector emits teargas to subdue said armed person captured within the net when the net isextended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,181,307 Hankulich May 2, 1916 1,300,981 Leon Apr. 15, 1919 1,393,183Tate Oct. 11, 1921 1,619,982 Lucas Mar. 8, 1927 1,807,944 Thibault June2, 1931 2,055,005 Dietman Sept. 22, 1936 2,253,252 Smith Aug. 19, 1941FOREIGN PATENTS 414,949 Germany June 11, 1925

4. A PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR A BANK OR THE LIKE HAVING A WINDOW AT ATELLER''S COUNTER FOR TRANSACTING BUSINESS WITH THE PUBLIC, SAIDAPPARATUS COMPRISING A RETRACTABLE AND EXTENSIBLE NET OF ANNULAR TAPEREDRINGS, CORD MEANS SUPPORTING THE NET IN AN ELEVATED RETRACTED POSITIONABOVE AND IN FRONT OF SAID WINDOW, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CATCH MEANS,SAID CORD MEANS BEING DETACHABLY ENGAGED UPON SAID CATCH MEANS ANDHOLDING THE NET ELEVATED AND RETRACTED, SWITCH MEANS AT THE TELLER''SCOUNTER IN CIRCUIT WITH THE CATCH MEANS FOR LEASING THE CORD MEANS TOEXTEND THE NET AND CAPTURE AN ARMED PERSON STANDING IN FRONT OF THETELLER''S WINDOW, SAID NET HAVING A MAGNETIC BOTTOM PORTION, ANELECTROMAGNET IN THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH AND IN FRONT OF THE SAID WINDOW,IN LINE WITH SAID NET, SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING CONNECTED IN CIRCUITWITH SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR ENERGIZATION THEREBY TO MAGNETICALLY ENGAGESAID BOTTOM PORTION OF THE NET AND HOLD THE SAME IN EXTENDED POSITION,AND A TEAR GAS EJECTOR DISPOSED INSIDE THE UPPERMOST ONE OF SAID RINGS,SAID TEAR GAS EJECTOR BEING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AND DISPOSED INCIRCUIT WITH SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR ACTUATION THEREBY, WHEREBY SAID TEARGAS EJECTOR EMITS TEAR GAS TO SUBDUE SAID ARMED PERSON CAPTURED WITHINTHE NET WHEN THE NET IS EXTENDED.